International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2014
Observational StudyThe effect of antenatal anaesthetic consultation on maternal decision-making, anxiety level and risk perception in obese pregnant women.
Obese parturients are recognised as high risk and an antenatal anaesthetic consultation is recommended. The potential positive and negative effects of this consultation have not been investigated. This prospective observational study aimed to determine if antenatal anaesthetic consultation affects decisional conflict, anxiety scores or risk perception in obese women planning vaginal delivery. ⋯ Our results support the current practice of referral of obese parturients for anaesthetic consultation, but demonstrate that most women remain unaware of the risks of obesity in pregnancy despite anaesthetic consultation.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2014
Case ReportsAn intrathecal catheter in a pregnant patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension: analgesia, monitor and therapy?
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is important for the obstetric anaesthetist as it is mostly seen in obese women of childbearing age. The incidence is likely to increase as the obesity pandemic grows. ⋯ We successfully managed labour analgesia in a parturient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension with an intrathecal catheter. The possibility of using this catheter as a cerebrospinal fluid drain and pressure monitor was considered and is discussed along with potential complications.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized, observer-blind comparison between the Neurotip mounted Neuropen and a disposable plastic neurological wheel for assessing the level of spinal blockade at cesarean section.
Various methods are used to assess the height of sensory block to touch under spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. We tested a novel, inexpensive, miniature, user-dependent plastic neurological wheel against the user-independent Neurotip mounted Neuropen. ⋯ The compact plastic neurological wheel is as clinically reliable as the Neurotip mounted Neuropen.